The Taken Girls. G.D. Sanders

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      Ed reached for a suitcase on top of the wardrobe. It felt heavier than she expected but inside there was nothing except a wash bag and an empty backpack. She turned back to Jenny, who was going through the papers from the box file.

      ‘What have you got there?’

      ‘It’s all printouts and hand-written notes about different religions. At the bottom there’s a Bible and a translation of the Quran.’

      ‘Probably for a school project. That’ll do for here. We’ll take that box file for a careful search.’

      Mr and Mrs Naylor were waiting at the bottom of the stairs.

      ‘Did you find anything that might help—’

      Mrs Naylor cut across her husband. ‘That’s Lucy’s stuff. What are you doing taking her private things? You’ve already got her computer.’

      ‘We need forensics to take a look. There could be something relevant among these notes, just like there could be a lead in social media on her laptop.’

      ‘We didn’t encourage her to use social media.’ Mr Naylor spoke quietly.

      ‘Nonetheless, forensics will need to check it.’

      ‘But that box is Lucy’s. Her things are private. We don’t even go in her room.’ Mrs Naylor took a step forward, as if to retrieve the box file.

      ‘Rach …’ Mr Naylor put a hand on his wife’s shoulder and she turned to face him. ‘The most important thing is to get Lucy back. The police know what they’re doing.’ He dropped his hand to her waist and pulled her close. ‘Do what you think best, Officer. Just find Lucy, we want her home.’

      ‘Thank you,’ said Ed. ‘Is there anything else you can tell us?’

      ‘We just want our daughter back …’

      Mr Naylor moved his arm to his wife’s shoulders and hugged her to him.

      ‘We hope to God you find Lucy quickly.’

      ‘We’re already doing everything we can. If you think of anything else, here’s my card.’ Ed stopped abruptly, realizing that she hadn’t yet been given cards for Canterbury. Smoothly, without betraying her moment of embarrassment, she turned to her colleague. ‘Jenny?’

      Jenny handed across two cards.

      ‘We’ll see ourselves out.’

      Mrs Naylor’s softly spoken words followed the two detectives down the hall.

      ‘Just find my daughter.’

      Debbie and her parents sat together on the family sofa facing the two detectives. Ed took them through routine questions about what happened the previous evening. They confirmed what the Naylors had said and added nothing new.

      ‘I have one final question. It’s for all of you.’

      Ed leant forward in her chair, reducing the distance between herself and the family on the sofa.

      ‘I need you to answer this question truthfully. If you think you’re betraying your friends, remember, we are doing this for Lucy’s sake.’ Ed paused and then asked, ‘How does Lucy get on with her parents? Has there been a recent falling-out between them?’

      The family responded without hesitation, speaking over each other.

      ‘No,’ said Mr Shaxted.

      ‘Lucy gets on well with her parents,’ said Debbie.

      ‘They’re a loving family,’ said Mrs Shaxted.

      ‘Thank you, that’s very helpful.’ Ed held out her hand to Jenny, who quickly gave her two cards. ‘Should you think of anything you haven’t mentioned, please call us on this number.’

      As the two detectives were about to leave, Ed appeared to have another thought.

      ‘Debbie, you stood at the door and watched Lucy walk down the road. Perhaps you could show us the point she’d reached when you last saw her?’

      In the front garden, Debbie pointed down Victoria Road. ‘I watched her until she reached the corner of Cogans Terrace. I’m sure she continued down Victoria towards the path.’

      ‘Thanks, Debbie, that’s a great help. Oh, by the way, are you sure she might not have dropped in to see somebody else on her way home?’

      ‘We’re not friends with anybody around here.’

      ‘And boyfriends? Are you sure Lucy wasn’t seeing someone?’

      ‘No … I mean yes, I’m sure she wasn’t. She’d have told me. We’re best friends.’

      ‘I forgot to ask when we were inside. Did Lucy have a holdall or backpack with her?’

      ‘No, nothing like that. Just her purse and mobile.’

      ‘Okay, thanks. If you think of anything else call the number on this card.’

      On cue, Jenny handed Debbie one of her cards.

      At that moment Ed noticed Mr and Mrs Shaxted appear at the door of the house. She stopped Jenny with a hand on her arm and spoke to Debbie.

      ‘One last thing, Debbie. DC Eastham is going to walk down the road. She’ll turn and wave when she gets to Cogans Terrace. Watch Jenny as if she were Lucy. Then, go back to your front door just as you did last night.’

      Ed stood where she could see both Jenny and Debbie. Jenny reached the road junction, paused to wave, and then continued walking. She was across Cogans Terrace and stepping onto the pavement to continue down Victoria Road as Debbie turned back to the house.

      ‘Thanks, Debbie.’ Ed shifted her gaze to the parents. ‘We’ll be on our way. Time is of the essence in a case like this.’

      Ed hurried to join Jenny. Time was of the essence if you had a clue. So far they had nothing. Well, they didn’t have much, but at least Ed was now sure which way Lucy had started to walk home.

      ‘Jenny, I’m sure Lucy continued down here, she didn’t go via Cogans Terrace. We’ll look for a spot where an abductor might have struck.’

      By the time they’d reached the primary school they were sure there was only one spot: at the end of the path where it joined Hollowmede by the triangle of grass.

      ‘I think he waited here, hidden by the hedge,’ said Jenny.

      ‘And, assuming it was a he, that’s where he left his transport, where our cars are parked.’

      Ed and Jenny walked over to DI Saunders who was discussing the progress of the house-to-house. He turned to face them.

      ‘We’ve got nothing from the door-to-door so far.’

      ‘We may have something,’ said Ed.

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